Shops have been accused of cashing in on the craze for wristbands at the expense of charities.

Bands sold in aid of organisations like Oxfam, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Nike's anti-racism campaign have become hugely popular and are difficult to find in shops.

But many stores are now flogging unofficial wristbands, with none of the profit reaching charities.

With many shops selling them as fashion items, trading standards and charity bosses are concerned.

David Hedley, of Newcastle Trading Standards, said: "They originally came out for charity but we are aware of people buying them for pennies and then selling them on at a profit.

"They cost pennies to make and while this is not illegal, morally it is not correct. They have become a fashion item and it is simply a case a people jumping on the bandwagon."

Ged Grebby, project co-ordinator for Show Racism The Red Card, has also hit out at traders who sell the bands.

Mr Grebby said: "We would urge people not to buy these unofficial wristbands as it defeats the object of the campaign.

"It is just people getting rich on the back of the campaign while a charity is denied funds."

Julia Haran from Cancer Research UK said: "If you are going to wear a `charity-style' wristband, surely it's better to feel certain that the money you spend is going to help a good cause."

One of the stores, Xtras in Eldon Square, denies any wrongdoing.

Xtras area manager Alison Pitts said: "We've never advertised them as charity wristbands. We are a fashion accessories company and that is what these bracelets are."

She also claimed they may have been selling the bands before the craze started. Mrs Pitts said: "I'm not in a position to say which came first but we've had no complaints and if we did, we would certainly look into it."

Candi in Eldon Square was one of the few stores visited by a Chronicle reporter selling genuine Livestrong bands, stating that all profits would go towards cancer charities.

The Kard Bar on Cross Street sells the Livestrong band alongside non-charity bands. Manager Brian Sandells said: "We do sell one official band, which we buy from the wholesaler and I presume the money goes to charity."

But he defended the sale of the other non-charity bands. "No-one can accuse me of jumping on the bandwagon because I've been selling these bands for 30 years."

Scarabee in the Greenmarket, also selling non-charity bands, said the manager was unavailable but that the bands "were simply fashion bands".

Others selling the bands include Kids Style 2, Clayton Street, and Quids In, Eldon Square, who were both unavailable for comment.